We need to keep everyone motivated, Rios said. This is the group that's going to carry the new GM forward.

GM had 29,600 salaried workers in the United States at the end of 2008 and plans to end this year with 23,700 workers.

Earlier this week, GM said 1,900 white-collar workers had accepted buyout offers to leave the payroll. The automaker plans to cut another 1,000 jobs this month to bring it closer to its year-end target.

Compensation for GM's top executives, including Chief Executive Fritz Henderson, remains subject to review by the U.S. Treasury.

GM came through a fast-track bankruptcy in July under the 61 percent ownership of the U.S. government with $50 billion in emergency funding. (Reporting by Kevin Krolicki, editing by Matthew Lewis)